Synopsis On 19July 1995, the FERBEC was transiting Lac Saint-Pierre, bound for the pilot station at Pointe des Ormes, Quebec. When an oil tanker passed the vessel, the master came up to the bridge to ask why the vessel's speed had been reduced. A discussion punctuated by offensive remarks ensued between the master and the pilot. It reached a climax when the master told the pilot that the main engine could not be stopped because it was operating on heavy oil. Eventually, the scheduled pilot change took place without the main engine having to be stopped, and without the vessel coming into a close-quarters situation with the oil tanker. Other Factual Information Particulars of the Vessel On 19July 1995, at about 1130(1), a pilot boarded the FERBEC, which was preparing to depart the wharf at Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel, Quebec. Since the preparations for departure had not been completed, the master invited the pilot to have lunch. The vessel departed for Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec, at 1215. During the crossing of Lac Saint-Pierre, the vessel had to reduce speed when passing buoy S41 to allow a deep-draught oil tanker to overtake. The master, who was in his office, went to the bridge to ask why the speed had been reduced and why the vessel had passed so close to the buoy; he had followed the vessel's progress on the secondary screen of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) installed in his quarters. Upon his arrival on the bridge, the master and the pilot exchanged some offensive remarks about the reasons for reducing speed. At 1423, the engine speed was increased. At 1432, the vessel was abeam of Port-Saint-Franois, Quebec. The master was concerned that the oil tanker that had passed the FERBEC was less than 0.5M ahead, the vessel was close to the pilot station, there was a bridge downstream, and the engine of the FERBEC was still set to full ahead. When the distance between the two vessels continued to decrease and the speed had still not been reduced, the master suggested that the pilot reduce speed since the main engine could not be stopped because it was operating on heavy oil. At 1435, the speed was reduced. An angry discussion ensued. Fifteen minutes later, the scheduled pilot change took place without the two vessels coming into a close-quarters situation and without the main engine having to be stopped. The owners of the ore carrier had prepared two information exchange cards for masters and pilots. One is entitled MASTER/PILOT INFORMATION EXCHANGE CARD and the other, MASTER/PILOT CHECK LIST (DISCUSS WHEN PILOT BOARDS). The first is a copy intended for the pilot; the second is supposed to remain on board the vessel. These cards were not completed for the occurrence voyage. The pilot has 24 years' experience and had piloted the FERBEC about twenty times. The main engine of the FERBEC, a type 6RD90 Sulzer, is designed to start and operate on heavy oil, if there is enough steam for the preheating period. In fact, the main engine can be operated on heavy oil at all times. It can also be started on diesel fuel and then transferred to heavy oil after a departure. The choice of fuel is left up to the operators on board. The manufacturer's manual No.30173, entitled Service Instructions for Sulzer Diesel Engines, discusses those options on pages 027-4 and 027-5. The ahead speed of the main engine of the FERBEC can be reduced to 35RPM in order to change pilots.